October 13, 2017

Autumn Run benefits Project Grad 2018 By Elizabeth Richards

Sunday,
October 9 was a perfect fall morning for a run through the woods to help
provide safe post-graduation activities for Windham students. A small group of
runners came together to run along the Mountain Division Trail in support of
Windham High School’s 2018 Project Graduation.

The
rain held off and though humidity was high, the overall temperature was
comfortable. The scenic trail took runners and walkers past trees bursting with
autumn colors and peaceful water views. The low-key atmosphere encouraged
peaceful enjoyment over competition, with some participants stopping to snap
photos along the way. All were there to show support for the efforts of Project
Grad 2018.

The
race moved from its typical spring date to mid-fall, to avoid last minute chaos
as project graduation activities neared, said race coordinator Brenda Caouette.
The change in the date didn’t impact participation, she added.

Elaine
Herzig, Project Grad 2018 Chair, said “I'd love to thank our volunteer race
coordinators, Brenda Caouette and Meesh and Mike Preston, for their time and
efforts. The 5K would not have happened without them!”

This
race was just one of many events organized by a small group of parents who have
been fundraising since last April, when the previous class was finished with
their efforts.“It’s really a group
effort. We have a good core of 10 or 12 parents who are putting in a lot of
hours to get this done,” Herzig said.

The
mission of the group is to send any of the 248 Windham High School seniors who
would like to attend, to a chemical free, safe event after graduation, said
Herzig. The trip itself will be a surprise for the students. The estimated cost
is $150 per student, which leaves the group with a tremendous fundraising goal.
“This is just one event that will hopefully help us get there sooner rather
than later,” Herzig said.

Vendors at the
event will be: Pampered Chef, Scentsy, Opulenza Designs, Thirty-One and LipSense.
Sales will continue online through November 3.

After the Shopping
Extravaganza, the next big event will take place at the Athletic Boosters
Holiday Craft Fair on November 11 and 12
from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., where Project Grad will have
a pie table and a table with Windham apparel for sale. There will also
be a cash raffle, with 3 winners drawn on Sunday afternoon at the fair.Tickets will be $5 each, and prizes will be
$250 first prize, $150 second prize and $100 third prize.

In
addition to these larger events, there are continuous fundraising efforts
throughout the year, including an ongoing bottle-drive at Patmans Redemption
Center. Anyone can drop off bottles at any time, and mark them for Project Grad
2018.